Billy Ray was a preacher's son
And when his daddy would visit he'd come along
When they gathered around and started talkin'
That's when Billy would take me walkin'
Out through the back yard we'd go walkin'
Then he'd look into my eyes
Lord knows, to my surprise

The only one who could ever reach me
Was the son of a preacher man
The only boy who could ever teach me
Was the son of a preacher man
Yes he was, he was, ooh, yes he was

Bein' good isn't always easy
No matter how hard I try
When he started sweet-talkin' to me
He'd come'n tell me "Everything is all right"
He'd kiss and tell me "Everything is all right"
Can I get away again tonight?

The only one who could ever reach me
Was the son of a preacher man
The only boy who could ever teach me
Was the son of a preacher man
Yes he was, he was, ooh, yes he was (yes he was)

How well I remember
The look that was in his eyes
Stealin' kisses from me on the sly
Takin' time to make time
Tellin' me that he's all mine
Learnin' from each other's knowin'
Lookin' to see how much we've grown and

The only one who could ever reach me
Was the son of a preacher man
The only boy who could ever teach me
Was the son of a preacher man
Yes he was, he was, oh yes he was

(The only one who could ever reach me)
He was the sweet-talkin' son of a preacher man
(The only boy who could ever teach me)
Was the son of a preacher man
(The only one who could ever reach me)
Was the sweet-talkin' son of a preacher man



Lyrics submitted by Nelly

Track duration: 02:28

"Son of a Preacher Man" as written by Ernest Drummond William

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Son Of A Preacher Man song meanings
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25 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:The only boy who could ever reach me. Easy as ABC. Do you people even know what love is?
    Flag DionysianBlisson May 07, 2010   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:She does sound frustrated at the end, when she adds: " I guess he was a son of a preacher man", and intonation is like "son of a bitch". Apparently, the guy dumped her, and left her pregnant or totally devastated.
    Flagged albanyon January 22, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:On the office, Jim said the song was about losing your virginity next to a church. It was in the episode "baby shower"
    Flag StonedImmaculate428on October 19, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is so great! It's just about learning about sexuality for the first time. There's romance, kisses, more than kisses, and surprisingly it's a preacher's son. It's a hot in a weird, remeber being 14 years old way.
    Flag SupahManDudeon July 02, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I always thought it said "That's when Billy would take me walking" too...
    Flag shazam yoon June 08, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's about somebody's first experience with religion and spirituality. Cleverly disguised as a love song.
    Throughout the song, the narrator becomes closer to God and realizes that He is the only answer in her life. Makes perfect sense, since the "boy" is a "son of a preacher man."
    Flagged Johnny0225on February 15, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:anyways I love this song, I was trumpeter in my college Funk band and we did this in our first year lots. I didn't really think of the lyrics until we were watching some documntary and my mum said she was known to be a lesbian, and I thoguht oh, the song could have a totally different meaning, esp. if she had wanted the meaning fairly well hidden.
    Flag moogle301on August 08, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:voodoochilde, do you mean she thought she shouldn't like girls and so she could be singing it like the son of a preacher man was a metaphor for a girl because she felt at the time it was sinning?? (She could be sining it this way even if she didn't write it.)
    I always thought that maybe it could be about the fact that she did like girls but wasn't comfortable about that, and wanted to like guys and that there was one guy 'the only guy who could ever reach me' who she acdtually did feel for and this made her happy 'cus she felt safer and like she fitted in, but perhaps there was some reason why they shouldn't get together which made her feel guilty, perhaps because she thoguht she would never like him as much as a girl or something..
    Flag moogle301on August 08, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's not "Cousin Billy," it's "That's when Billy."
    Flag demo_use_onlyon July 31, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i don't care what it's about i just love this song it's so chill
    Flag discotetrison June 02, 2007   Link

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